Danegeld

It was the silver the Saxons would pay to keep the dreaded Viking marauders from their shores.

It was the price a half-Irish beauty would pay to keep the murderer of her father and mother at bay, to keep the powerful magic of her forebears from overwhelming her, to keep her stirrings of womanhood in check.

It was all that one mighty Viking would give to remain a man, to be whole, to retain the respect of the jarls and the might of his sword arm.

It was ... Danegeld.